Apparatus for the production of combustible gas



Aug. 23, 1938. c. A. MEDSKER 2,127,380

APPARATUS FOR THE PRODUCTION OF coMBUsTIBLE GAS Filed March 28, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 ATTORNEYJ,

Aug. 23, 1938. c. A. MEDSKER 2,127,330

APPARATUS FOR THE PRODUCTION OF COMBUSTIBLE GAS Filed March 28, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEY);

Patented Aug. 23, 1938 APPARATUS FOR THE PRODUCTION COMBUSTIBLE GAS Charles A. Medsker, Cleveland Heights, Ohio, assignor to The Ferrolene Oxygen Co. of Ohio,

Cleveland, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application March 28, 1934, Serial No. 211,871 3 Claims. 21. 48-93) The presentinvention relating as indicated to e a method of and apparatus for producing gaseous mixtures,.is more particularly directed to a new and improvedmethod and apparatus for the production of a mixture consisting of a true gas, and a vapor produced by the evaporation of a liquid fueli-toproduce a combustible gas capable of burning at a high temperature for use in the welding and cutting of metal. A further object of the invention is the provision of apparatus for continuously producing a combustible mixture of the character described of fixed composition regardless ofthe volume in which the mixture isproduced and drawn on.

.To' the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, the invention, then, comprises the features hereinafter fully described, and particularly pointed out in the claims, the following description and the annexed drawings setting forth in detail certain illustrative embodiments of the invention,-t hese being indicative, however, of but a few of the various ways in which the principle of the invention may be employed.

In said annexed drawings:--

Fig. 1 is a side elevation partially in section and more or less diagrammatic in character of one form of my improved apparatus, and Fig. 2 is a similar viewshowing a modification of the same.

It has been found that any combustible gas, such as ordinary natural or artificial heating gas, can be enriched by the addition of vapors of liquid fuels thereto, such for example as vapors of liquid hydrocarbons, to produce a combustible mixture having a combustion temperature adapting it for the welding and cutting of metal, and gases of this character are now in general use, resulting .in large savings in cost over the ordinary commercial welding and cutting gases such for example as acetylene and the like. It is a simple matter to enrich the ordinary artificial or natural heating gas by the addition thereto of a predetermined amount of an atomizedliquid-so long as the rate of production of the gas is fairly constant, and also so long as the mixture so produced is used relatively close to the point of production. ever, that in installing a system of this type in a factory and-providing outlets at'points spaced 50 a considerable distance from each other, it'is very difiicult to prevent condensation of the vaporized liquid in the conduits extending from the source of production to the point of use, audit is also diflicult to regulate accurately the 55 amount of liquid introduced into the gas to produce a final mixture of the same content. Further difllculties are experienced in maintaining constant temperatures in the conduits to prevent unequal condensation at different points.

, In the present method and apparatus, I have devised a system for producing a constant mixture of the type described which is relatively stable and in which the content can be con trolled and proportioned accurately regardless of rate of production and use.

In Fig. 1, I have shown one apparatus embodying my improved invention which consists of a mixing tank I provided with a mixing tube 2 therein, through which the mixture may be drawn and discharged into the conduit 3 which is provided with a control valve land may be connected to any suitable torch or burner. The basic gas which forms the major portion of the mixture isintroduced into the chamber I through a conduit 5 and how throughthis conduit is controlled by means'of a manual valve 6, and an automatically controlled valve I. The conduit is also supplied with gauges 9 and ill to allow the operator to determine the pressures which exist and make adjustments to secure the desired control. The enriching liquid is contained in a tank i5 provided with a gauge glass It and is carried through a conduit l'l provided with a strainer l8 and a pressure gauge II and controlled by an automatic valve l9, presently to be. described, into the chamber I and discharged into a shallow cup or pan and there vaporized by means of heat supplied below the cup through an electrical heating unit 2| mounted in an enclosing casing 22 fixed to the end or head 23 of the chamber I. The gas-introduced through-;ithe conduit 5 is led through the chamber land discharged upwardly through the end 3|! of said conduit, and thereby caused to flow around and over the cup 20 in which the enriching liquid is continuously vaporized by means of the heat applied thereto from the heating coil. The result is that the gas issuing from the conduit carries up the vaporized liquid, mixes with the same, and fills the interior of the chamberv I from passage 2, which in order to secure better mixing by the gas and vapors may be filled with brass shavings or similar material. Air may be introduced into the gas entering at conduit 5 I or may be subsequently supplied "and mixed with the mixture in or at the burner which is not shown.

In operation, the pressure existing in the discharge line 3 is caused to operate a pressure-- ,sawhich this mixture is then drawn off through the It has been found,.how-- controlled electrical switch which is 01' standard construction and is indicated diagrammatically at 40. Excess pressure in the conduit 3 operates a diaphragm which will close the circuit, causing current to flow through wires 4| to actuate a solenoid 42 which is connected to the valve 1 in the gas inlet line 5. An excess of pressure over that for which the device is set will close the valve 1, reducing the flow of gas into the chamber I and thereby reducing the pressure in that chamber and consequently in the discharge conduit 3. In this way, substantially constant pressure can be maintained in the discharge conduit and hence at the burner or tip.

Operation of the switch contained in the control device 40, by means of wires 43 and the solenoid 44, also operates a second electrically controlled valve IS in the liquid line. This valve is similar in construction and operation to that shown in section in the conduit 5, and thus the flow of both gas and liquid is simultaneously and accurately controlled and proportioned to the pressure which it is desired to maintain in the discharge line 3.

In order that the liquid will flow into the mixing chamber I, it is of course necessary that the pressure in the conduit I! be slightly greater than the pressure in the interior of the chamber 1. The pressure in the interior of the chamber i is in turn dependent upon the inlet gas pressure from the conduit 5. Therefore, in order to maintain such a slight excess of pressure in the liquid feed line H, the following apparatus is provided. A connecting conduit leads from the upper or vapor side of the liquid chamber I5 to the line pressure regulator 46, the detailed construction of which is well-known in the art. Suffice it to say that the regulator 46 serves as a means for equalizing, up to a predetermined limit, the pressure in the conduit 45 to that in the interior of chamber i, and accordingly, the pressure on the vapor side of the liquid chamber IS. The liquid chamber I5 is positioned at a higher level than that of the mixing chamber l and accordingly there will result a hydrostatic pressure suflicient to force the liquid through the conduit l1 and into the mixing chamber I.

In the form of construction shown in Fig. 2, it is contemplated that the enriching liquid will be first vaporized before its admixture with the gas. The form of construction shown in Fig. 2 and now to be described is less expensive than that shown in Fig. l, in that the large mixing chamber i and the solenoid valves I and I! are eliminated. I

Now referring more particularly to Fig.2, the enriching liquid is contained in a chamber 60. A sight glass Si is provided on the chamber 60 to enable a visual inspection of the quantity of liquid contained therein. A second chamber 62 serves as a main supply chamber. The upper or vapor sides of the chambers 60 and B2 are connected by means of the conduit 63. The lower or liquid side of the chamber 62 and the vapor side of the chamber 60 are connected by means of the conduit 64'. A float 65, in the chamber 60 actuates the needle valve 66 in the lower end of the conduit 64 and serves as a means for maintaining a constant liquid level in the chamber 60. The liquid from the chamber 60 communicates with the heating chamber 61 by means of the connecting conduit 68. tric heating unit 59 is positioned on the interior of the heating chamber 61 and is energized by means of the connecting wires 10 which lead to An electhe pressurestat or thermostat II. A conduit 12 is connected to the vapor side 01' the heating chamber 61 and leads to the line regulator valve 13 and thence through the conduit 14 and orifice 15 to the mixing chamber I6. A conduit 11 also connects the vapor sides of the chambers 60 and 62 to the upper portion of the heating chamber 61. The artificial or natural gas is conducted into the apparatus by means of the conduit 18, through the line regulator 19 and thence to the mixing chamber I6. The mixed gases are conducted from the mixing chamber 18 out through the conduit 80 to a burner or torch (not shown).

In operation, the above described form of apparatus first vaporizes the liquid by means of the heating unit 69 and incidentally creates a vapor pressure, due to the fact that the entire system is atmospherically sealed, against the line regulator valve 13. The pressure limit of the line regulator valve 13 and also of the gas line regulator valve 19 is set at a predetermined value, and therefore both the vaporized liquid fuel and the gas will be supplied to the mixing chamber at constant pressures, and correspondingly at constant velocities. Therefore, the proportions of the constituents of the resultant mixture will remain constant regardless of any fluctuation in the rate of flow or pressure in the burner connecting conduit 80.

It is also desirable to maintain a substantially constant temperature in the chamber I, and I employ a thermostat mounted in this chamber and adapted to actuate a mercury switch 5| which in turn controls the circuit extending to the heater II in the tank, and closing or opening the circuit, depending upon the temperature for which the thermostat is set.

Other forms may be employed embodying the features of my invention instead of the one herein explained, change being made as regards the means and the steps herein disclosed, provided the elements stated by any of the following claims or the equivalent of such stated elements be employed, whether produced by my preferred method or by others embodying steps equivalent to those stated in the following claims.

I therefore particularly point out and distinctly claim as my invention:

1. In apparatus of the character described, the combination of a mixing chamber, a conduit for introducing an enriching hydrocarbon liquid thereinto, a control valve in said conduit, means in said chamber for vaporizing said liquid, a second conduit for passing a stream of combustible gas into said chamber, a control valve in said second conduit, means for removing the mixture of gas and vaporized liquid from said chamber, and a master control simultaneously regulating both of said control valves and thus regulating the flow of said liquid and said gas into said chamber, said master control regulating said flow of gas and said flow of liquid in direct proportion to the rate of removal of said mixture therefrom.

2. In apparatus of the character described, the combination of a mixing chamber, a conduit for introducing an enriching hydrocarbon liquid thereinto, a control valve in said conduit, means for heating the said liquid to a vaporizing temperature, means including a conduit for passing a stream of combustible gas over such liquid, a control valve in said second conduit, means for removing the mixture of gas and vaporized liquid from said chamber, and a master. control simultaneously regulating both of said control valves 15 for passing a stream of combustible gas over the heated liquid insaid chamber, a control valve in said second conduit, means for removing the mixture of gas and vaporized liquid from said chamber, and a master control simultaneously regulating both of said control valves and thus regulating the rate of flow of said liquid and of said gas'into said chamber, said master control regulating said flow of gas and said flow of liquid in direct proportion to the rate of removal of 10 said mixture therefrom.

CHARLES A. MEDSKER. 

